May Allah SWT Bless Their Souls

Ahmad bin Ibrahim

Professor Tan Sri Datuk Ahmad bin Mohamed Ibrahim was born on Monday, 15 May 1916 (12 Rejab 1334) in Singapore. He received his early education at Victoria Bridge School, Singapore and continued his secondary education at Raffles Institution Singapore. Later he studied at Raffles College, Singapore for the London B.A. External degree. On being awarded the Queen’s Scholarship he went to England to study at St. John’s College, Cambridge and Middle Temple, London. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Law in 1935. He obtained his Masters in Law in 1965 from Cambridge University. He was also awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D) from the University of Singapore on 5th June 1965.

In 1946 he served as a Magistrate in Singapore and was later appointed as District Judge of Singapore in 1947. In 1948 he became a law lecturer at Raffles College before becoming an advocate and solicitor from 1949 to 1955. He was also a member of the Legislative Council of Singapore from 1952 to 1955. In 1955 he again served as a Magistrate and District Judge of Singapore before being appointed as Crown Counsel in 1956, Senior Crown Counsel in 1957, State Advocate General of Singapore (1959 – 1963), and Attorney General of Singapore (1963 – 1967). He was later appointed as the Ambassador of Singapore to the Republic of Egypt (1967 – 1968).

As Singapore’s first attorney general during self-rule and the early years of independence, he was an international expert in constitution and the syariah law. Among his legacies is the AMLA (Administration of Muslim Law Act). He was instrumental in the merger talks in London that led to the formation of Malaysia. He was also the legislative member for the Rochor constituency and was actively involved in many Muslim organizations.

After having served the Republic of Singapore for 22 years, he then contributed his services to the Malaysian government in the field of law. He was appointed Professor of Legal Studies at the Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya (1969 – 1972), Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Malaya (1972 – 1983), Professor Emeritus, University of Malaya (1984), and the Sheikh and Dean, Kulliyyah of Laws, International Islamic University from 1983 – 1999.